‘inFAMOUS: Second Son’ Video Shows Off Fire & Smoke Abilities

While the launch of a new console may always be home to many unknowns, there seems to be one certainty for the PlayStation 4: their most loyal fans have inFAMOUS: Second Son to look forward to. The latest creation from Sucker Punch takes the series in a new direction, with a new hero, on a new platform. A risky move, but it quickly became clear from the start that the developers weren’t afraid of change – especially where the series’ superpowers were concerned.

When Second Son was first revealed, it was impossible to notice new protagonist Delsin Rowe’s mastery of fire and smoke. As it turns out, players will be experimenting with far more powers throughout the game; but once you see the damage that smoke and fire can inflict in the latest developer diary, we doubt players will be in a hurry to try something new.

Now, some might say that having a superpower that steals all other superpowers is cheating, but the developers don’t seem to care. As yet another of the inFAMOUS series’ ‘Conduits,’ Delsin Rowe is granted the ability to adopt the powers of any other Conduit he encounters. The ability to use fire and smoke in combat, traversal and evasion is the first granted to the hero, but it certainly won’t be the last.

But after watching the peek behind-the-scenes, it’s hard to not hope that Sucker Punch will start giving some indication of how other powers will be integrated into the environment. Delsin’s smoke abilities demand that he not only unleash attacks, but refuel his powers by absorbing smoke from fires or smokestacks. If one of his alternate abilities will be water-based (the game is set in Seattle, after all) how will that affect the core mechanics? Will players be forced to seek out kitchen sinks and garden hoses, or will a rainstorm turn Delsin into an unstoppable force?

It’s questions like these that keep us up at night, but given the slim line-up of confirmed launch titles for both the PS4 and Xbox One, expect Sony to provide more looks at Second Son in the near future.

What are you most looking forward to with Second Son? Getting to try the new powers in yet another sprawling open world, or the chance to see how the PS4’s visuals have changed the inFAMOUS series for the better?